13.1.2. Pylon height shall be a maximum of 20 feet and a minimum of 15 feet. Pylons #2 and #3 shall be equal in height. There shall be no pilots’ helpers at any of the pylons or near any judges.

13.1.3. On the sideline and looking toward #1 pylon, there shall be one chief judge plus an additional judge (“flagger”) assigned to each pilot in the heat. The flaggers shall sit or stand perpendicular to the direction of the course and at least 300 feet away, unless a specific distance waiver has been granted by the Technical Director and District Vice President as described in paragraph 4.2.4. If the distance waiver is granted, the chief judge and flaggers must be seated in a protective barrier cage.

13.1.4. For the #2 pylon, there be shall a judge positioned at least 300 feet away from the #3 pylon in the direction indicated on the racecourse diagram. This is approximately a 30 degree angle from the center line of the course, but may be up to 45 degrees if space permits.

13.1.5. For the #3 pylon, there shall be a judge positioned at least 300 feet away from the #3 pylon in the direction indicated on the racecourse diagram. This is approximately a 30 degree angle from the center line of the course, but may be up to 45 degrees if space permits.

13.1.6. Lap counters and timers are to be located on the sideline and looking toward the start/finish line.

13.1.7. Each heat race begins with the aircraft stationary at or behind the start/finish line and ends when the aircraft cross the start/finish line after completing 10 laps (or 11 laps for an aircraft that has cut once). Timers’ clocks shall be started with the first drop of the starter’s flag. No more than four aircraft per heat are allowed. Except in 1/2A, all takeoffs shall be ROG. No mechanical device shall be used to assist in launching the aircraft. Laps shall be flown in a counterclockwise direction, with all turns to the left.

13.1.8.1. Pilots have a maximum of one (1) minute to start their engines and prepare for takeoff. Once the starting period has elapsed, any pilot who is not prepared for takeoff (facing #1 pylon with both hands on the transmitter) is disqualified from the heat and shall not be allowed to fly or run his/her engine in the course. In addition, this pilot will not be granted a “refly” as described in 13.1.15. The starter shall check that all pilots are in position and ready to control their aircraft before giving the signal to launch. Each pilot shall confirm his/her “ready” status by a nod of the head or other agreed signal. However, the pilots are only entitled to a confirmation before the starting period has elapsed.

13.1.9. Unless otherwise specified, the following starting procedure shall be used. Lane assignments shall be determined by drawing lots or by another random method at the start of each heat. The aircraft shall be flagged off the starting line in two groups, the first group being the aircraft in lanes #1 and #3 and the second group being the aircraft in lanes #2 and #4. The starter shall use two distinct motions of the starting flag to signal both groups approximately one-half (1/2) to one (1) second apart.

13.1.10. All aircraft are to be signaled the moment they break the plane (“gate”) established by the #1 pylon and the flaggers’ position. There will be no signals at the #2 or #3 pylons unless a pylon is cut. The judges shall use an appropriate method to notify pilots of cuts. If possible, such notification shall be simultaneous; however, it is not grounds for a refly if the pilot does not receive notification of a cut before the completion of the heat.

13.1.11. If a pylon is cut, that lap shall not be counted. In addition, a cut penalty shall be assessed for any flying over the designated sideline, pit, or spectator area or in “no-fly” zones clearly identified at a pre-race pilots’ meeting. A pilot who cuts twice in the same heat shall receive a score of zero points and, if both cuts occur before the last lap, the starter shall give that pilot the black flag.

13.1.12. Pilots whose callers push off before their launch signal shall receive a cut for that heat. A blatant early push is a black flag offense. In the event of a midair or takeoff contact between aircraft, or at any other time during the heat, the starter is empowered to black-flag any pilot whose aircraft may be damaged or whose flying becomes erratic or dangerous. This decision is entirely at the discretion of the starter and is not subject to protest.

13.1.13. The starter may interrupt a heat in progress at any point if he or she believes that an unsafe condition exists. Unsafe conditions include, but are not limited to, persons or vehicles approaching the racecourse; full-scale aircraft in the area; sudden wind, rain, or lightning; or an out-of-control model. A heat that is stopped due to unsafe conditions shall be reflown at the earliest convenience of the officials and contestants, preferably before the beginning of the next round.

13.1.14. Aircraft shall not fly lower than the tops of the pylons at any time except for takeoff and landing. A pilot flying below the top of a pylon more than once in any heat (for example, below the top of #2 twice, or once below the top of #2 and once below the top of #3) shall be warned once, during or after the heat in which the low flying occurs. Another such violation in any later heat shall be cause for a black flag. Determination of low flying shall be made by the starter and is not subject to protest.

13.1.15. In the event of a dead heat, where the finish order of a heat is disputed or scoring equipment failure occurs and a clear-cut decision cannot be made as to the outcome of the heat, the heat shall be declared void and rescheduled for another attempt (“re-fly”). The re-fly shall be held at the earliest convenience of the pilots and officials, preferably by the end of the round during which the void heat was originally scheduled. All pilots who were originally scheduled to fly in the void heat shall be called up again for a re-fly. A pilot will not be granted a re-fly under the following conditions:

1. If a pilot is not ready for flight prior to the engine starting period elapsing.

2. If a pilot receives a zero in the original heat not as a result of a dispute or scoring equipment failure.

(Examples of a zero not as a result of dispute or scoring may include but are not limited to: nose over on take-off, mid air collisions, and double cuts.)

This situation will be decided by the starter. Except for zero earned as a result of items 1 and 2, none of the prior scores or results from the void heat shall carry over.